A year in the life of Alfie Brooks

'It was more frightening thinking about going [in prison] than actually being there,' Alfie Brooks (not his real name) says. He is pictured here writing to a friend who is in prison.
Photograph: Tom Wichelow

Alfie, on the right, walks into Brighton with a mate. Alfie was sentenced to 11 days inside for stealing 400 balloons from Sainsbury's. He had planned to fill them with laughing gas and sell them at festivals.
Photograph: Tom Wichelow

Waiting for the bus. In prison, Alfie quickly understood that staff at the prison have little real incentive to clamp down on drugs. 'What would they rather? Have someone agitated because they can’t smoke or cell inmates who are doped up and docile?' Photograph: Tom Wichelow

Alfie has spent a decade avoiding education and evading the police. 'I knew I was different even at eight. I knew things that the other children didn’t because they were too young: how much drugs cost, how to do things, what you could get away with.' Photograph: Tom Wichelow

Alfie with his girlfriend at his 19th birthday party. 'I wish I could go back to school. It is a good place. My parents tried to tell me – stay in school; don’t do drugs; do your exams. When you’re young, you can’t see the consequences. I could never see this happening to me.' Photograph: Tom Wichelow

A coffee table at his flat, on which are instructions on how to use the curfew tag he has to wear. Photograph: Tom Wichelow

In his flat – reflected in the window is the man who fitted his curfew tag. Photograph: Tom Wichelow

Alfie is clear that his life needs to start again. 'I want to achieve success in art. I would love to have influence and be recognised for doing art.' Photograph: Tom Wichelow

Alfie's youth offending team officer is upbeat about his prospects. 'I think he is going to be OK,' she says. 'I think the more mature he gets, the more he will be able to harness his dreams and work for what he wants to achieve. He is unique.' Photograph: Tom Wichelow

'I’m not going back to prison. That’s not going to happen.' Photograph: Tom Wichelow